Improvement in coolers for wine



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

FRANCIS M. PIPER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN COOLERSFO'R WINE, '&c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,915, dated June 17, 1873 application filed April 12, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

which will enable others skilled in the art towhich my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, and in which- The figure there shown represents a side elevation of my improved device, a part of which isl broken away and shown in section in order to make the representation more clear.

The object of my invention is to make a wine-cooling device whereby wine and liquors, inclosed in bottles, may be readily and quickly cooled, either in large or small quantities and at comparatively small expense. I also aim to keep the bottles dry while they are arranged in the cooler, and to arrange them in such a position therein that the Vwine will be in contact with the corks, and thus prevent the latter from shrinking. For the purpose of accomplishing the objects above set forth, and as a feature of my invention, I provide a perforated tray, suitable for the purpose of receiving broken ice, with inverted cups opening at the bottom, and preferably approximating the form of inverted wine bottles. These cups I arrange either in or around the perforations of the tray, and seal them tightly thereto. I also arrange the tray in a suitable case or supportin. such a manner that the seals of the bottles will not be injured.

In the drawing A represents a tray, made preferably of copper, and sufficiently deep to hold a considerable quantity of broken ice. B B are cups, made of the same metal as the tray, or of any suitable metal, and in the form of inverted bottles. The cups B B are arranged in the tray in the manner shown, and I make the cups deep and open at the bottom, and attach them to the tray by means of a tight joint, so that the seals or corks of the bottles will not .be injured, and so that the bottles will remain dry during the cooling process.

It will be observed from the foregoing description, and from reference to the drawing, that when the tray is filled or partly lled with broken ice, and suitably supported, a greater or less number of bottles, C C, according to the capacity of the tray, may be arranged in an inverted position in the cups B B without being made wet from the water flowing from themelting ice, and that the contents of the bottles will be readily cooled, for the reason that the ice is `separated from the bottles by the cups B B only. It will also be perceived that the wine will be in contact with the corks in the bottles. In order to drain away surplus water from the tray it maybe provided with a drip, a, below which a suitable receiving-vessel may be arranged. In order to properly support the tray it may be arranged in the case D, having an elevated floor perforated to receive the necks of the bottles, and provided with side pieces so that the open bottoms of the cups B B will correspond in position to the perforations in the oor, when the tray is arranged in its case, as shown, and so that the seals of the bottles will not be brought in contact either with each other or with the case.

The device is adapted for use in hotels, bar-rooms, and in other places. where bottled wines and liquors are required to be cooled before being used, or likely to be ordered on short notice and in large quantities.

Heretofore the bottles, so far as I am aware, have been arranged, for this purpose, in ice boxes or refrigerators, where their contents were slowly cooled, and only brought to the temperature of the air in the box 5 or else they were brought in direct contact with the ice and thus made wet and their contents rendered liable of being frozen.

I am aware that cups for the reception of bottles have heretofore been employed in coolers, and I do not claim such broadly 5 but the cups have not, so far as I am aware, been inverted and open at the bottom.

My improved device is intended for the purpose of rapidly cooling the contents of the bottles to a temperature but little below the freezing point, and to keep the bottles dry and in a proper position during the cooling process; and, instead of making the tray and cups of copper, they may be made of any suitable material which Will tend to produce such a result.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The perforated tray A, provided with the inverted cups B B, open at the bottom and arranged tightly in or around the perforations in the tray7 in combination witha suitable support or case, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

FRANCIS M. PIPER. Witnesses:

N. C. GRIDLEY, F. F. WARNER. 

